Claiming that the BJP government at the Centre had converted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the “NaMo investigation authority”, the Congress on Friday demanded that the Supreme Court take suo motu cognizance of the “clean chits” given to accused in the case and order a fresh probe under its supervision.

“Dropping of charges against Sadhvi Pragya and other people affiliated to the BJP/RSS has shocked the collective conscience of the nation on account of the blatant disregard and misuse of the authority of the NIA by the BJP government. The NIA under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become a NaMo investigation authority, aimed at giving clean chits to BJP/RSS-affiliated leaders in criminal cases,” Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala told The Indian Express.

He said the agency had disregarded a “thorough and competent investigation” by former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare. “Karkare, an Ashok Chakra awardee, investigated the case and 11 people were arrested. But the BJP and Shiv Sena called Karkare a traitor to the nation. Karkare laid down his life, valiantly fighting terrorists like Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. His memory has been killed a second time by the BJP government and the NIA by disbelieving the thorough and competent investigation done by him,” Surjewala said.

The Congress said the government had also questioned the integrity of people like public prosecutor Rohini Salian. “She had pointed out that the BJP government was pressuring her to exonerate the accused. On the other hand, one of the witnesses against the accused, Randhir Singh, was rewarded with ministership in the Jharkhand government,” Surjewala said.

“Modi and his government are playing with the process of justice. It is time a fresh investigation, that too a court-monitored one, is held. That is the only way to arrive at the truth. Considering the magnitude of this case, a Supreme Court-monitored SIT is the only answer, considering that the Modi government has become a partisan party in the case,” he added.

Asked who would order such a probe, he said the court should take suo motu cognizance. “Courts have done so in the past and they must again rise to this blatant affront to the process of judicial decision-making,” he said.

“The NIA has diluted the investigation. No fair or free investigation or conviction is possible, given the situation,” he added.